2014 CEHRT Flexibility Rule

What is it? On August 29, 2014 CMS and ONC released a final rule that allows providers participating in the EHR Incentive Programs to use the 2011 Edition of certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) for calendar and fiscal year 2014. The rule grants flexibility to providers who are unable to fully implement 2014 Edition CEHRT for an EHR reporting period in 2014 due to delays in 2014 CEHRT availability. Providers may now use EHRs that have been certified under the 2011 Edition, a combination of the 2011 and 2014 Editions, or the 2014 Edition for payment year 2014. How does it affect providers? Providers' attestation options under the flexibility rule depend on which Stage they were scheduled to demonstrate and which CEHRT they used for payment year 2014. Below is a table from the CMS press release about the flexibility rule:   You would be able to attest for Meaningful Use: If you were scheduled to demonstrate: Using 2011 Edition CEHRT to do: Using 2011 & 2014 Edition CEHRT to do: Using 2014 Edition CEHRT to do: Stage 1 in 2014 2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* 2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures* 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures Stage 2 in 2014 2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* 2013 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- Stage 2 objectives and measures* 2014 Stage 1 objectives and measures* -OR- Stage 2 objectives and measures   *Only providers that could not fully implement 2014 Edition CEHRT for the EHR reporting period in 2014 due to delays in 2014 Edition CEHRT availability.   When can providers attest under this rule? The flexibility rule will be available in MEIPASS in the first quarter of 2015. Providers will have sufficient time to attest under the flexibility rule and meet the payment year 2014 deadline of March 31, 2015. Will providers be able to use the flexibility rule after 2014? This flexibility rule only applies to payment year 2014. Beginning in 2015, all eligible providers will be required to report using 2014 Edition CEHRT. More information about the flexibility rule is available at the CMS website: www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/EducationalMaterials.html